p. hesselbo , samuel mailliot , christiane ruget and ... · additional, powerful tools for global...
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by Rogério Bordalo da Rocha1, Emanuela Mattioli2, Luís Vítor Duarte3,Bernard Pittet2, Serge Elmi2†, René Mouterde4†, Maria Cristina Cabral5,Maria José Comas-Rengifo6, Juan José Gómez7, António Goy6, StephenP. Hesselbo8, Hugh C. Jenkyns9, Kate Littler8, Samuel Mailliot2a, LuizCarlos Veiga de Oliveira10, Maria Luisa Osete11, Nicola Perilli12,Susana Pinto13, Christiane Ruget14 and Guillaume Suan2
Base of the Toarcian Stage of the Lower Jurassicdefined by the Global Boundary Stratotype Sectionand Point (GSSP) at the Peniche section (Portugal)1 GeoBioTec and Earth Sciences Department, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica (Portugal);
Toarcian Task Group Convenor. E-mail: [email protected] Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Ens de Lyon, CNRS, UMR 5276 LGL-TPE, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France.
E-mail: [email protected], Toarcian Task Group Secretary; [email protected]; [email protected] Present address: Observatoire de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Campus de la Doua, Bâtiment Geode, 69622 Villeurbanne Cedex (France).
E-mail: [email protected]† Former Toarcian Working Group Convenor.3 MARE - University of Coimbra, Earth Sciences Department, Rua Silvio Lima, Polo II, Coimbra (Portugal). l E-mail: [email protected]† Université Catholique de Lyon, France.5 Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, Departamento de Geologia e Instituto Dom Luiz (IDL), Campo Grande, C6-40, 1749-016
Lisboa (Portugal). E-mail: [email protected] Departamento de Paleontologia, Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Univ. Complutense de Madrid. José António Novais, 2, 28040 Madrid
(Spain). E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] Departamento de Estratigrafía, Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid e IGEO (CSIC-UCM), José Antonio
Novais 2, 28040 Madrid, España. E-mail: [email protected] Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter (United Kingdom). E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3AN (United Kingdom). E-mail: [email protected] Petrobras University, Rua Ulisses Guimarães 565, 80 andar, 20211-225, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). E-mail: [email protected] Departamento de Física de la Tierra, Facultad de Ciencias Físicas, Avenida Complutense s/n, Universidad Complutense de Madrid and
Instituto de Geociencias, IGEO, CSIC, 28040 Madrid (Spain). E-mail: [email protected] Dipartimento Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Pisa, Via S. Maria 53, 56100 Pisa (Italy). E-mail: [email protected] Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, Departamento de Geologia, Campo Grande, C6-40, 1749-016 Lisboa (Portugal).
E-mail: [email protected] Chipier, Route de Pimotin, 69420 Tupin et Semons (France). E-mail: [email protected]
(Received 10/07/2015: Revised Accepted 18/02/16)
DOI:10.18814/epiiugs/2016/v39i3/99741
The Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) forthe base of Toarcian Stage, Lower Jurassic, is placed atthe base of micritic limestone bed 15e at Ponta do Trovão(Peniche, Lusitanian Basin, Portugal; coordinates:39º22’15’’N, 9º23’07’’W), 80km north of Lisbon, andcoincides with the mass occurrence of the ammoniteDactylioceras (Eodactylites). The Pliensbachian/Toarcian boundary (PLB/TOA) is contained in a
continuous section forming over 450m of carbonate-richsediments. Tectonics, syn-sedimentary disturbance,metamorphism or significant diagenesis do notsignificantly affect this area. At the PLB/TOA, no verticalfacies changes, stratigraphical gaps or hiatuses havebeen recorded. The base of the Toarcian Stage is markedin the bed 15e by the first occurrence of D. (E.) simplex,co-occurring with D. (E.) pseudocommune and D. (E.)
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polymorphum. The ammonite association of D.(Eodactylites) ssp. and other species e.g. Protogram-moceras (Paltarpites) cf. paltum, Lioceratoides aff.ballinense and Tiltoniceras aff. capillatum is particularlysignificant for the boundary definition and correlationwith sections in different basins. Ammonites of the PLB/TOA are taxa characteristic of both the Mediterraneanand Northwest European provinces that allow reliable,global correlations. The PLB/TOA is also characterizedby other biostratigraphical markers (brachiopods,calcareous nannofossils, ostracods and benthicforaminifers) and by high-resolution stable carbon andoxygen isotopes, and 87Sr/86Sr ratios that show distinctivechanges just above the PLB/TOA, thus providingadditional, powerful tools for global correlations. ThePBL-TOA lies at the end of a second (and third) ordercycle of sea-level change, and the top of bed 15e isinterpreted as a sequence boundary. Cyclostratigraphyanalysis is available for the Lower Toarcian of Ponta doTrovão. Detailed correlations with the Almonacid de laCuba section (Iberian Range, Spain) providecomplementary data of the ammonite succession in theNorthwest European Hawskerense and Paltum Subzones,and magnetostratigraphical data that allow supra-regional correlations. The proposal was voted on by theToarcian Working Group in June, 2012, and by theInternational Subcommission on Jurassic Stratigraphyin September, 2012, approved by the ICS in November,2014, and ratified by the IUGS in December, 2014. Withthis Toarcian GSSP, all international stages of the LowerJurassic have been officially defined.
Intr oductionThe Toarcian is the highest stage in the Early Jurassic. D’Orbigny
in 1852 designated “étage Toarcien”, from the town of Thouars(Toarcium) (Deux-Sèvres, France), but the boundary Pliensbachian -Toarcian is marked by an important unconformity in this locality, anda big question stands: what is missing at the base of the Toarcian (orat the top of the Pliensbachian)? This well-known problem hasprevented easy correlations since the beginning of the use of theToarcian stage. The lower limit of the stage has to be selectedelsewhere.
Several groups of ammonites of primary importance forchronostratigraphy of the Jurassic System underwent significantturnover during the Late Pliensbachian and Early Toarcian (Harriesand Little, 1999; Macchioni and Cecca, 2002; Cecca and Macchioni,2004; Guex et al., 2012), enabling very fine biochronologicalsubdivision and precise correlation of strata of this age. The base ofthe Toarcian has been usually assigned as the base of the TenuicostatumZone (Buckman, 1910; index species Dactylioceras (Orthodactylites)tenuicostatum), which is drawn at the first abundant appearance of
Dactylioceras after the disappearance of Pleuroceras. The custom ofusing the Tenuicostatum Zone has been maintained, in spite of therestricted biogeographical extent of the index species and of thedifficulties inherent to its identification. In the Tethyan “standard”the Toarcian begins with the Polymorphum Zone (index speciesDactylioceras (Eodactylites) polymorphum). Thus, the primary markerfor the base of the Toarcian, placed at 182.7±0.7 Ma (Gradstein et al.,2012), is provided by the evolution of Dactylioceras (Eodactylites)sp. However, the ammonite turnover was associated with someendemism and provincialism (Dera et al., 2011). Within most of theclassical areas of Europe and North Africa, the provincialism did notlead to a complete isolation, so that correlations among areas showingmixed faunas are feasible.
The Toarcian Working Group was established in 1984 (1st
International Symposium on Jurassic Stratigraphy in Erlangen,Germany), in order to improve the geological knowledge of thePliensbachian/Toarcian boundary (PLB/TOA). Detailed studies of theranges of all major fossil groups in well-studied sections subsequentlywere addressed. By considering the different advances of knowledgein various domains, the Toarcian Working Group intensified localinvestigations, with the aim of producing local standards (Fischer,1984). Over the following fifteen years, the Toarcian Working Grouphas carried out fieldwork or scientific meetings in several selectedsections before finally choosing Peniche (central-west Portugal;Fig. 1a, b) as the formal candidate for the GSSP of the Toarcian Stage.A final consensus was obtained in June, 2005, when the ToarcianWorking Group accepted the Peniche section as the best sectioncurrently available (Elmi et al., 2005).
This report presents the GSSP for the Toarcian Stage at the baseof the Polymorphum Zone in the Peniche section. It also presents indetail all the biostratigraphical (ammonites, brachiopods, calcareousnannofossils, ostracods, palynomorphs, and benthic foraminifers) andchemostratigraphical (carbon and oxygen stable isotope, strontiumisotopes) data acquired for the Peniche section. A detailed comparisonof the Peniche with the Almonacid de la Cuba section in the IberianRange is then presented. The latter section is particularly interestingbecause magnetostratigraphy has been successfully applied (Comas-Rengifo et al., 2010). An indirect correlation of the Peniche sectionto the magnetic record of the Karoo basalts (South Africa) was thenpossible.
The Pliensbachian and the Toarcianstages in the Lusitanian Basin
Geological setting and lithostratigraphy
The Lower Jurassic is well represented in the Lusitanian Basin(Fig. 1c). The lithological succession corresponds to a thick carbonateseries (over 450m), and is composed of shallow-marine dolomites todeep-marine limestones and argillaceous limestones (Mouterde et al.,1972; Soares et al., 1993; Duarte and Soares, 2002; Azerêdo et al.,2003; Duarte et al., 2004b, 2010; Duarte, 2007a; Kullberg et al., 2013).The Lower Pliensbachian recorded the opening of the basin tomarine influence, with basin-wide occurrence of ammonoids. ThePliensbachian and Toarcian are dominated by hemipelagic depositscomposed of marlstone-limestone alternations very rich in nektonic(ammonite and belemnite) and benthic (bivalve, brachiopod, crinoidand siliceous sponge) macrofauna. Ammonite biostratigraphy provides
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a good resolution throughout basin (Mouterde, 1967; Mouterde etal., 1972; Phelps, 1985; Rocha et al., 1987, 1996; Dommergues, 1987;Elmi, 2006; Elmi et al., 2007; Mouterde et al., 2007). In Portugal,the PLB/TOA outcrops in several localities and yields Tethyanammonites associated with some classically NW European taxa.These assemblages provide good markers for worldwide correlations.Moreover, although condensation occurs at some levels, the transitionbeds commonly indicate continuous sedimentation, in contrast to thewidespread significant gaps recorded in sections from NW Europe(Pittet et al., 2014).
The Peniche peninsula, located some 80km north of Lisbon(Fig. 1b) shows the most representative Lower Jurassic successionfor the Lusitanian Basin. Cropping out along the Atlantic coast, thePeniche section (>450m thick; Fig. 2a) ranges in age from the EarlySinemurian (Coimbra Fm) to the early Middle Jurassic (Aalenian(?); top of Cabo Carvoeiro Fm; França et al., 1960; Duarte and Soares,2002; Duarte et al., 2004b). Good exposure and detailedbiostratigraphical data (Mouterde, 1955, 1967; Phelps, 1985;Dommergues, 1987; Elmi, 2006; Elmi et al., 2007) allowed thedefinition of three formations with type localities in Peniche: Valedas Fontes, Lemede and Cabo Carvoeiro (Duarte and Soares, 2002).The whole succession dips gently to the south.
In the Ponta do Trovão section, the PLB/TOA (coordinates:
39º22'15"N, 9º23'07"W) is included in the uppermost part of theLemede Fm, just below the base of Cabo Carvoeiro Fm (Fig. 2b).The Lemede Fm is composed of bioturbated, cm-thick marlstonesalternating with dm-thick limestones, rich in belemnites, ammonites,bivalves and brachiopods. The formation age ranges from the top ofMargaritatus Zone to the lowermost part of Polymorphum Zone(Duarte et al., 2014), attaining in Peniche a thickness of around 24m.The Cabo Carvoeiro Fm consists of a thick, carbonate-rich succession;an increase in siliciclastic sandstones and oolitic/peloidal limestonesis recorded towards the top of the formation (Wright and Wilson,1984; Duarte, 1997). This unit, more than 150m thick, is subdividedinto five members (CC1 to 5; Duarte and Soares, 2002; Fig. 2a). Thefirst member, around 11m thick, is dated as Polymorphum Zone, andconsists of dm-thick alternations of marls and cm-thick limestones.The macrofauna is very abundant and diverse, being particularly richin brachiopods, bivalves, belemnites and pyritised ammonites(dactylioceratids), but benthic fauna decreases upwards in terms ofnumber of individuals and of species. Zoophycos, Planolites andpyritised burrows are very common. Member CC1 is the lateralequivalent of the Marly limestones with “Leptaena” fauna (MLLF)Member of S. Gião Fm, showing very similar sedimentarycharacteristics.
The uppermost part (top ~1m) of the Lemede Fm described byChoffat (1880) and Mouterde (1955) shows a progressive sedimentaryevolution from carbonate- to marl-dominated sediments and is namedCouches de passage (Transition beds, 15a-e; Fig. 3). These beds haveyielded a continuous and diversified fossil record. Shells arecommonly concentrated, forming irregular heaps. Some chaoticallyoriented belemnite accumulations have been interpreted as coproliteremains. Plicatula and serpulids are attached to ammonite shells orcasts. Because of these features, the Couches de passage areinterpreted as being deposited under a low sedimentation rate,although there is no evidence for the occurrence of a hiatus. Theuppermost bed (15e; Fig. 3) has yielded a characteristic associationof dactylioceratids that is classically interpreted as marking the baseof the Toarcian. As a consequence, the chronostratigraphical boundaryis distinct from the lithological boundary, the latter being situatedbetween the Couches de passage (beds 15, topmost part of LemedeFm) and the base of the Cabo Carvoeiro Fm (bed 16, base of CaboCarvoeiro CC1; Fig. 3).
Sequence stratigraphy and cyclostratigraphy
In the Lusitanian Basin, the Pliensbachian and Toarcian seriesare included in an Upper Triassic (Norian?)–Callovian sedimentarycycle (Hallam, 1971; Wright and Wilson, 1984; Wilson et al., 1989;Soares et al., 1993; Azerêdo et al., 2003, 2014). This cycle beginswith coarse, red siliciclastic sediments from the base of the UpperTriassic, and ends with bioclastic limestones of Late Callovian age(Athleta Zone). In this cycle, the Pliensbachian and Toarcian depositscorrespond to the maximum transgressive interval and the strata aresubdivided into two second-order sequences, equivalent totransgressive-regressive facies cycles of de Graciansky et al. (1998)(Fig. 2a; Soares et al., 1993; Duarte, 1997, 2007a; Duarte et al., 2004b;Azerêdo et al., 2014). The sequence boundary of the second sequenceis dated to the lowermost Polymorphum Zone (intra-MirabileSubzone, at the top of bed 15e; Fig. 2b) at the top of the LemedeFormation that shows a regressive trend (Duarte et al., 2010) wellconstrained in the proximal part of the Lusitanian Basin (Tomar region;
Figure 1. A. Geographic map of Portugal and position of maincities (L = Lisbon; C = Coimbra; P = Porto; T = Tomar).B. Geological map of Peniche peninsula and location of Ponta doTrovão. C. Schematic geological map of Portugal.
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15e
Figure 2. A. Stratigraphical log of the Late Sinemurian – Aalenian (?) succession at Peniche: lithostratigraphy, sequence stratigraphy(second-order Transgressive (T) – Regressive (R) cycles) and main sedimentary features (adapted from Duarte et al., 2004b). PMb –Polvoeira Member; PPLMb – Praia da Pedra Lisa Member; MLUP Mb - Marls and limestones with Uptonia and Pentacrinus member;LML Mb - Lumpy marlstones and limestones member; MLBF Mb – Marly limestones with bituminous facies member; CC1 to CC5 Mb –Cabo Carvoeiro members 1 to 5. B. The PLB/TOA interval at Peniche with high-resolution wt% CaCO3 data. Fluctuations of the wt%CaCO3, related to eccentricity, obliquity and precession, are shown. Also are shown the fluctuations in wt%CaCO3 not related to cycles(doubled-tipped arrows), but likely corresponding to values measured on samples collected in or just below turbiditic layers (shaded zones).Low-resolution wt% CaCO3 data in the Emaciatum and uppermost Levisoni Zones are also displayed to characterize the long-term evolutionof the lithology (Suan et al., 2008b). 3rd order transgressive-regressive sequences are based upon Pittet et al. (2014). The stratigraphicposition of the T-OAE equivalent interval is displayed. Even if this log shows only two meters of uppermost Pliensbachian (a part of itsuppermost ammonite subzone), there is a more complete Upper Pliensbachian in the Ponta do Trovão section.
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Fig. 1) by coarse calcarenites deposited in coastal environments (Suanet al., 2010). This level was immediately followed by a fasttransgression at the onset of Early Toarcian in the Lusitanian Basinand the installation of a clay-rich sedimentation (Fig. 2b). Thetransgression is locally materialized by a condensed interval on topof bed 15e (Mouterde, 1955) and in the lowermost marls of the CaboCarvoeiro Formation (Pittet et al., 2014).
The Lemede Fm (Upper Pliensbachian) is formed by lithologicalalternations where marlstones have a calcium carbonate content of50–60wt% and limestones of 75–85wt% (Fig. 2b; Suan et al., 2008a).The Polymorphum Zone in the Cabo Carvoeiro Fm displays morevariable CaCO3 content. Some 30 cm above the Pliensbachian-Toarcian boundary, a 15 cm-thick marly interval has a CaCO3 contentof 20–25wt%. This clay-rich interval is also recorded in othersections of the Lusitanian Basin. Above, carbonate content fluctuatesbetween 25 and 75wt%, and a decrease in the average carbonatecontent is recorded in the uppermost Polymorphum Zone. Spectralanalysis of the carbonate content has been undertaken for most of
the Lower Toarcian (Suan et al., 2008b), which demonstrates adominant control of eccentricity and precession in the lower partof the Polymorphum Zone, of eccentricity alone in the upper partof this zone, and of eccentricity and obliquity in most of theLevisoni Zone, with precessional pacing being well-resolved in theupper part of the latter zone (Fig. 2b). The change from precession toobliquity dominance for the shorter term orbital control onsedimentation passing from the Pliensbachian to the Toarcian hasalso been recorded in other sedimentary sequences (Hinnov andPark, 1999), which suggests that the Pliensbachian of the LemedeFm was also formed in tune with precession. The marlstone-limestonealternations display an average thickness (~27 cm in the upper partof the Emaciatum Zone, Fig. 2b) comparable to the precession-related carbonate content fluctuations recorded in the PolymorphumZone (two cyclicities at 23 and 33 cm; Suan et al., 2008b). Similarresults were obtained by Huang and Hesselbo (2014) who appliedspectral analysis to the high-resolution δ13Ccarb record of the Penichesection.
Figure 3. A. General view of the outcrop at Ponta do Trovão section, Peniche peninsula (Portugal). B. The PLB/TOA boundary, with theTransition beds (“Couches de passage”) defined by Mouterde (1955). C. Detail of the Transition beds.
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Fossil content of the Transition beds
Ammonites
The Peniche section, first mentioned by Choffat (1880), is one ofthe most important settings in Europe for establishing the ammonitezones succession of the Pliensbachian and Toarcian stages (Mouterde,1955, 1967; Phelps, 1985; Rocha et al., 1987, 1996; Dommergues,1987; Elmi, 2006, 2007; Elmi et al., 2007; Mouterde et al., 2007).The detailed description of the Couches de passage (Transition beds)succession marking the PLB/TOA interval is presented here, fromthe bottom to the top (Figs. 4A and 5):
Emaciatum Zone, Elisa Subzone
Bed 15a (0.15m) also named Canavaria bed: bioturbated,micritic limestone containing some irregular, nodular lumps.Canavaria zancleana (Fucini) is associated with Emaciaticerasemaciatum (Catullo), E. lotti (Fucini) and Lioceratoides aff. ballinense(Haas).
Bed 15b (0.25/0.30m): no ammonites recorded in these calcareouslaminated marls, which bear brachiopods (Zeilleria sp.), belemnites,gastropods and bivalves (Plicatula (P.) spinosa (Sowerby) var.pectinoides (Lamarck)).
Bed 15c (0.25/0.30m) also known as Tauromeniceras bed: formedof bioturbated micritic limestones, with Tauromeniceras elisa (Fucini),T. disputandum Dubar, T. gr. nerina (Fucini), Lioceratoides aradasi(Fucini), L. aff . ballinense (Haas), Tiltoniceras aff. capillatum(Denckmann), Pleuroceras cf. buckmani Moxon, Protogrammoceras(Paltarpites) sp., Spiriferina gr. rostrata Schlotheim and P. (P.)spinosa var. pectinoides (Lamarck).
Bed 15d (0.20/0.30m): marly limestone enriched in belemnitesand spiriferinids. Tauromeniceras mazetieri (Dubar), Neolioceratoidesaff. hoffmanni (Gemmellaro), Spiriferina gr. rostrata Schlot., Zeilleriasp. and P. (P.) spinosa var. pectinoides (Lamarck) are commonlyrecorded.
Polymorphum Zone, Mirabile Subzone
Bed 15e (0.20m) also named Eodactylites bed: micritic limestonebearing numerous ammonites. Ammonites generally correspond tooxidized-pyrite internal moulds. Eodactylites are abundant anddiversified: Dactylioceras (Eodactylites) simplex (Fucini), D. (E.)pseudocommune Fucini, D. (E.) polymorphum Fucini. Accordingto Elmi et al. (1994), the Mirabile Subzone is defined on the basis ofthe presence of D. (E.) simplex. The association of D. (E.) simplexwith D. (E.) pseudocommune may indicate a slight condensation.Upper Pliensbachian specimens, like Tiltoniceras aff. capillatum(Denckmann) and Lioceratoides aff. ballinense (Haas), are alsoassociated. The presence of Protogrammoceras (Paltarpites) cf.paltum (Buckman) is especially important for correlations withNW Europe. Brachiopods (Spiriferina sp., Zeilleria sp. andRhynchonella sp.), belemnites and bivalves (P. (P.) spinosa var.pectinoides (Lamarck)) are also common. This bed marks thebeginning of the Toarcian (Paltus/Mirabile Subzone of theTenuicostatum/Polymorphum Zone), also characterized by thedisappearance of arieticeratinids (Emaciaticeras, Canavaria,Tauromeniceras) and hildoceratids (Neolioceratoides).
Polymorphum Zone, Semicelatum Subzone
Bed 16a (1.70m): base of the Cabo Carvoeiro Fm. The lowesttwo metres of this marl-dominated unit contain small pyritized internalmoulds of specimens attributed to NW European Orthodactylitesnamely, D. (O.) crosbeyi (Simpson), D. (O.) clevelandicum Howarth,associated with Protogrammoceras (Paltarpites) sp. The base of theSemicelatum Subzone is defined on the basis of the occurrence of D.(O.) crosbeyi and D. (O.) clevelandicum, whilst D. (O.) semicelatum(Simpson) is recorded from the bed 16c. The record of these specimensallows a tentative correlation with the Crosbeyi/ClevelandicumSubzones of Britain, and supports the hypothesis that the absence ofEodactylites in many classic NW European sections is due to asedimentary gap, rather than to a palaeogeographically controlleddistribution of this genus. This bed also yields an abundant assemblageof belemnites, gastropods and brachiopods. Brachiopods are smalland perhaps indicative of dwarfism, related to poorly oxygenated,organic matter-rich environments. Bioturbation is widespread(Zoophycos and pyritised tubular burrows). The upper part of Bed16c contains several fossiliferous layers yielding mainly D. (O.)semicelatum. These ammonites are commonly randomly orientated,probably as a result of bioturbation.
In the Lusitanian Basin, the successive fossil assemblages of thePLB/TOA mainly contain genera characteristic of the MediterraneanProvince (Lioceratoides, Neolioceratoides, Dactylioceras(Eodactylites)) and of the Northwest European Province(Protogrammoceras (Paltarpites), Dactylioceras (Orthodactylites);Figs. 4, 5). The occurrence of taxa from both provinces in the Penichesection is extremely helpful in improving correlations betweendifferent areas.
For the definition of the base of the Toarcian, the ammoniteassemblage includes (Figs. 4A, 5):
Dactylioceras (Eodactylites) polymorphum Fucini,D. (E.) pseudocommune Fucini,D. (E.) simplex (Fucini),Protogrammoceras (Paltarpites) cf. paltum (Buckman),Lioceratoides aff. ballinense (Haas),Tiltoniceras aff. capillatum (Denckmann).This assemblage well characterizes the Mirabile Subzone,
although the zonal index (D. (E.) mirabile Fucini 1935, p. 85, tav.VIII, fig. 1-4) is not present in the Peniche section but in the Almonacidde la Cuba section, well correlated to Peniche (see below).Lioceratoides aff. ballinense and Tiltoniceras aff. capillatum are foundbelow and above the boundary. The latter species differs from theTiltoniceras antiquum of Britain (Howarth, 1992) in having a moreopen umbilicus, and its stratigraphical range is also different, beingconfined to the Polymorphum Zone (Dommergues et al., in Cariouand Hantzpergue, 1997).
Brachiopods
The early work of Choffat (1880) mentioned in the upper part ofthe “Couches de passage” (beds with Ammonites spinatus),Terebratula cf. punctata Sow., T. davidsoni Haime, Zeilleria darwiniDesl., Z. cf. cornuta Sow., Z. resupinata Sow., Kingenadeslongchampsi Dav., Rhynchonella cf. bidens Sow., R. cf. serrataSow., R. amalthei Qu., R. rimosa Buch, R. moorei Dav., Spiriferinarostrata Schl. In the “Couches à Leptaena”, are mentioned:Terebratula davidsoni Haime, Zeilleria darwini Desl., Kingena
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Lithology(as published in
Duarte and Soares, 2002,
Hesselbo et al., 2007)
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(as published inSuan et al., 2008a,
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Figure 4. Comparison between the stratigraphig logs published by Suan et al. (2008a and b; 2010), and by Duarte and Soares (2002) andHesselbo et al. (2007). Even if these logs show only two meters of uppermost Pliensbachian (a part of its uppermost ammonite subzone),there is a more complete Upper Pliensbachian in the Ponta do Trovão section. A. Distribution chart of ammonites. B. Distribution chart ofostracods.
deslongchampsi Dav., Rhynchonella pygmaea Sow., R. amalthei Qu.,R. moorei Morr., R. cf. bouchardi Dav., R. cf. frontalis Desl.,Spiriferina rostrata Schl., Leptaena liasina Bouch., Thecidea sinnataDesl. Choffat (1947, posthumous publication coordinated by C.Teixeira) figured Zeilleria conocolis Rau (Charmouthian, “couches àAm. spinatus”), Terebratula ovulum Qu., Zeilleria sp. ind., Z. cornutaSow., Z. darwini Desl. (Lower Toarcian, “Couches de passage”),Terebratula ovulum Qu. var. penichensis Chof. (“Couches àLeptaena”).
Mouterde (1955) described Spiriferina gr. S. rostrata Schl., S.sicula Canav., Aulacothyris aff. walfordi Dav., Zeilleria gr. darwiniDesl., Zeilleria sp., Rhynchonella sp. from the upper part of theSpinatum Zone (beds 14a-c, 15 a-d). At the base of the Toarcian (bed15e), he recorded S. rostrata Schl. var. madagascariense Thév., S.apenninica Canav., Zeilleria sp., Rhynchonella sp., and in theoverlying beds 16a-b R. pygmaea Morr., Koninkella liasina Desl., K.deslongchampsi Dav., S. apenninica Canav. and Rhynchonella cf.fallax Desl. The most abundant species in bed 16c is R. pygmaeaSow.
More recently, many authors have mentioned the presence ofUpper Pliensbachian and Lower Toarcian brachiopods from thePeniche section, but there are few detailed studies (Alméras et al., inRocha and Soares, 1988; Alméras et al., 1995; Comas-Rengifo et al.,
2015) where the most representative species of Emaciatum Zone (ElisaSubzone) are illustrated, namely: Liospiriferina cf. rostrata (Schl.),L. aff. nicklesi (Corroy), Prionorhynchia serrata (Sow.),Gibbirhynchia northamptonensis (Dav.), Quadratirhynchia quadrataBuck., Homoeorhynchia acuta (Sow.), Lobothyris punctata (Sow.),L. subpunctata (Dav.). These papers also report the specimens fromthe Elisa Subzone and the lower part of Semicelatum Subzone:Liospiriferina cf. falloti (Corroy), Cisnerospira n. sp., Gibbirhynchiaaff. reyi Alméras and Fauré, Gibbirhynchia cantabrica García Joraland Goy, Zeilleria quadrifida (Lamarck), Zeilleria culeiformis(Rollier), Lobothyris cf. arcta (Dubar). Alméras et al. (in Rocha andSoares, 1988), Alméras et al., (1995) and Comas-Rengifo et al. (2015)also document the brachiopods recorded only from the PolymorphumZone (Semicelatum Subzone): Liospiriferina subquadrata(Seguenza), Cirpa fallax (Desl.), Nannirhynchia pygmaea (Morris),Pseudokingena deslongchampsi (Dav.) and K. liasina (Bouchard).
Below the PLB/TOA, the recorded taxa are very similar to theSouthern England faunas and enable correlation with the basins ofWestern Europe and North Africa outside the Alpine Belt. In theMirabile Subzone of the Lower Toarcian, taxa show a more restrictedpalaeobiogeographic distribution, allowing correlation with severalneighboring European basins. At the base of the SemicelatumSubzone, an important environmental change took place with
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Figure 5. Ammonites from Ponta do Trovão (Peniche) section. Specimens are from the René Mouterde’s collection, by the courtesy of David Besson curator of the Musée des ConfluencesLyon (MNHL). Photos by Emmanuel Robert (curator, Collections de Géologie de Lyon) unless for bed 15e and for Protogrammoceras (Paltarpites) cf. paltum and Dactylioceras (Eodactylites)simplex that are from Elmi et al. (2007). Scale is 1 cm. A. Specimens from beds 15a, 15c and 15d. B. Specimens from beds 15e and 16a.
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development of probable dysoxic conditions. Brachiopods are rathersmall in size, polymorphs, very abundant and with a low diversityassemblage. They are represented by Athyridida, Koninckinidae (K.liasina), Terebratulida, incertae sedis (P. deslongchampsi) andRhynchonellida, Norellidae (N. pygmaea), which represent the lowerbeds of the Koninckella fauna, equivalent to the Leptaena faunadescribed in England and Normandy (Davidson and Morris, 1847;Deslongchamps, 1853).
In Peniche, as in other Western Tethys areas, a major extinctionepisode affected brachiopods during the Polymorphum–LevisoniZones, with the complete disappearance of the orders Athyridida andSpiriferida, the renewal of many of the specimens of the orderRhynchonellida, and a negative impact on the Terebratulida (GarcíaJoral and Goy, 2000; Alméras and Fauré, 2000; Gahr, 2002; Vöros,2002; Gómez et al., 2008). The reappearance of the group took placesubsequently and is marked by the presence of the widely distributedspecies Soaresirhynchia bouchardi (Davidson).
Calcareous nannofossils
Calcareous nannofossils represent a powerful biostratigraphic toolfor the Lower Jurassic series. Events and assemblages of Penichehave already been described (Comas-Rengifo et al., 2004; Oliveira etal., 2005; 2007b; Perilli and Duarte, 2006; Mailliot et al., 2007; Suanet al., 2008a; Mattioli et al., 2008; 2013). The majority of the samplesanalyzed here display a good to moderate preservation of nannofossils(Fig. 7), with the Upper Pliensbachian marlstone/limestonealternations of Peniche (Emaciatum Zone) showing a moderatepreservation, whereas the basal Toarcian marlstone/limestonealternations (Polymorphum Zone) generally display a betterpreservation where delicate forms of coccoliths are commonlyobserved.
A gradual diversification of coccoliths is observed at Peniche(Mattioli et al., 2013) and this trend is consistent with thediversification pattern documented within the western Tethys (Bownand Cooper, 1998). Species richness significantly increases acrossthe PLB/TOA. Nannofossil diversification mainly concernedplacoliths (coccoliths with two sub-horizontal shields separated by atube, Bown and Young, 1998). Thus, assemblages in the Pliensbachianwere dominated by muroliths (coccoliths having a wall-like, sub-vertical rim; Bown and Young, 1998), whereas placoliths becamemore common in the Toarcian (Fig. 6). Just above the PLB/TOA,absolute abundance progressively increases up to the highest valuerecorded in the section (Suan et al., 2008a). This increase parallels asignificant decrease of Schizosphaerella spp. size from 12 µm onaverage to <9 µm (Suan et al., 2010).
The presence of Calyculus spp., Crepidolithus cavus/impontus,Lotharingius sigillatus and Lotharingius crucicentralis is recordedfrom the base of the interval studied here (Fig. 6). Lotharingius aff.L. velatus (having the same diagnostic characters of Lotharingiusvelatus but smaller in size and with a thinner rim; Fig. 7.17) firstoccurs within the Emaciatum Zone at the very base of the studiedinterval (Oliveira et al., 2007b; Mattioli et al., 2013). Slightly higher,we report the First Occurrences (FOs) of Biscutum intermedium L.velatus and Discorhabdus ignotus (1.20 m and 2.95 m, respectively;Fig. 6). In particular, the FO of Discorhabdus genus at the very baseof the Toarcian is a new datum. A similar record is documented in theAmellago (Morocco; Bodin et al., 2010) and Valdorbia (central Italy;Mattioli et al., 2013) sections. A possible explanation for this new
record relies on the presence of a hiatus affecting several Tethyanareas at the PLB/TOA, when Discorhabdus first occurs, and asubsequent Lazarus behaviour of this taxon during the ToarcianOceanic Anoxic Event (T-OAE; for more discussion, see Mattioli etal., 2013). Also, the FO of B. intermedium was previously referred toas Middle Toarcian (Bown, 1987; Bown and Cooper, 1998). ThePeniche record represents, therefore, significant new evidence ofnannofossil events. The FOs of Diductius constans and Carinolithussuperbus are recorded in the basal Toarcian (8.1 m; Fig. 6), and thisrecord is consistent in the literature (Bown, 1987).
The PLB/TOA at Peniche is within the NJT5b L. sigillatusnannofossil subzone of Mattioli and Erba (1999; South Tethyanmargin) or in the NJ5b C. impontus Subzone of Bown and Cooper(1998; NW Europe). Because the Peniche nannofossil assemblagesshow characters intermediate between the N and S Tethyanassemblages, both biostratigraphical schemes can be used. Finallythe FO of Carinolithus superbus (reported as the FO of Carinolithusspp. by Oliveira et al., 2007b) is very important because it marks thebase of the NJ6 Nannofossil Zone, which encapsulates the T-OAE.The PLB/TOA is in the nannofossil Unitary Association Zone UA-ZII, spanning the Upper Pliensbachian to the Lower Toarcian interval(Mailliot et al., 2006). This zone is characterized by the co-occurrenceof Similiscutum precarium and 22 other nannofossil species. Amongthese taxa, Similiscutum finchii represents the oldest FO within theUA-Z II, while Discorhabdus ignotus represents the youngest.
Peniche nannofossils show some peculiar features. Over-calcifiedspecimens of L. frodoi are observed in various samples (Fig. 7.14),displaying higher birefringence colours. These specimens are probablytransitional between Lotharingius and Watznaueria britannica, as theFO of W. britannica is commonly reported at the Aalenian/Bajocianboundary (Mattioli and Erba 1999). The presence of these transitionalforms, similar to W. britannica, may explain the presence ofEllipsagelosphaera (=Watznaueria) britannica (that are very likelyover-calcified L. frodoi) from the Toarcian of the Lusitanian Basin(Hamilton, 1979). The presence of over-calcified, robust coccolithsseems to be a common pattern in Peniche, mainly in the uppermostPliensbachian interval. Robust specimens of Similiscutum aff. S.finchii, named here S. giganteum (Fig. 7.9-10), and C. granulatus,are also recorded sporadically. Conversely, in the Lower Toarcianunder-calcified, tiny coccoliths are observed, including L. velatus (Fig.7.18), L. barozii, and Similiscutum finchii. These taxa do not showreduced dimensions (i.e., coccolith length and width) with respect toholotype descriptions, but instead have a very thin ring and an enlargedcentral area.
Ostracods
Ostracod data from Peniche have previously been published inpart in Pinto et al. (2007). Ostracods are present in all the analysedsamples with poor preservation (recrystallized and worn specimens).Species richness is high in the interval from the top of Emaciatum tothe top of Polymorphum zones, with 13 genera and at least 28 marinespecies. Ostracods from the top of Emaciatum Zone are dominatedby Ogmoconcha, Ogmoconchella and Liasina, associated withPolycope, Paracypris and Ledahia. Ostracods from the PolymorphumZone are represented by Ogmoconcha, Ogmoconchella and Liasinagenera, which are dominant, and by heavily ornamented species ofKinkelinella and Ektyphocythere. Of the 28 ostracod species, 19 arecommon to the topmost Pliensbachian and Lower Toarcian. Most of
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the Lower Toarcian species extend into the Middle and UpperToarcian (unpublished data from Boca da Mata and Rabaçal/Zambujalsections, Lusitanian Basin). In the Peniche section, the first appearanceof Kinkelinella sp. 1 and of Ektyphocythere knitteri (Riegraf 1984)marks the PLB/TOA. The disappearance of several species ofOgmoconcha, Ogmoconchella and Isobythocypris aff. ovalis Bateand Coleman 1975, together with the appearance of Cytherella cf.toarcensis Bizon 1960 and Kinkelinella gr. sermoisensis (Apostolescu1959), occurs at the transition from Polymorphum to Levisoni zones.The main biological changes in ostracod assemblages are observedat the top of the Polymorphum Zone, just below the major C-isotopenegative excursion coinciding with the T-OAE (Hesselbo et al., 2007).A strong reduction in ostracod diversity and abundance, and thedisappearance of Ogmoconcha, Ogmoconchella and Ledahia generaoccurs at this level. The disappearance of these three genera is alsoobserved at a global scale, related to the global extinction ofMetacopina (Cabral et al., 2013). The studied assemblages showstrong similarities with those described from other European areas(see Arias and Whatley, 2005). The data reported here are alsosimilar to previous works on the Peniche section (Lord, 1982).
Benthic foraminifers
Foraminifera of the PLB/TOA at Peniche are very similar to the
fauna recorded in other Portuguese sites. The microfauna of Beds16a and 16b (lowermost Toarcian) is clearly dominated by typicalUpper Pliensbachian species. These assemblages consist ofLenticulina morphogenus Lenticulina and rare morphogenera ofPlanularia or Marginulinopsis, although the morphogenusFalsopalmula is also present in very small numbers. The specimenscollected from the Polymorphum Zone are: Lenticulina praeobonensismorphogenus Planularia (Boudchiche et al., 1994). Numerousspecimens of Marginulina prima d’Orbigny, M. spinata Terquem,M. interrupta Terquem, ornamented forms, are found. In level 16b,arenaceous forms are present, accompanied by smoothPseudoglandulina and by Pseudonodosaria multicostata(Bornemann).
From Bed 16c upwards, a clear reduction in the number ofindividuals of Marginulina prima group is observed. The onlyabundant forms are Dentalina terquemi d’Orbigny, D. obscuraTerquem and D. arbuscula Terquem. The Lenticulina s.s. group (coiledspecimens) assemblage in Bed 16c differs with respect to the UpperPliensbachian assemblages. The umbilicus of the specimens recordedin Bed 16c is higher, the keels are more acute and wider, and thebody chambers are more numerous. These forms are morphologicallyclose to those from the basal Toarcian that have been described inFrance, Spain and Morocco (e.g., Bassoullet, in Cariou andHantzpergue, 1997; Ruget and Nicollin, in Cariou and Hantzpergue,
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Suan et al., 2008a,2008b, 2010)
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Figure 6. Distribution chart of calcareous nannofossils across the PLB/TOA boundary of Peniche section. Arrows indicate the first occurrences(FO) recorded in the studied interval. Even if this log shows only two meters of uppermost Pliensbachian (a part of its uppermost ammonitesubzone), there is a more complete Upper Pliensbachian in the Ponta do Trovão section.
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Figure 7. Micrograph of selected calcareous nannofossil specimens from the PLB/TOA boundary of Peniche section. White/black bar = 5 µm.
1997; Mailliot et al., 2009). Level 16d also yields L. praeobonensis,which usually occurs in the Lower Toarcian (PolymorphumZone). In these two beds, numerous Holothurian sclerites are alsopresent.
Palynomorphs
A rich but poorly preserved palynoflora was documented byOliveira et al. (2007a) from the PLB/TOA of Peniche. Terrestrialpalynomorphs (spores and pollen grains) dominate the assemblage(see also Barrón et al., 2013). Bisaccate and monosulcate pollen grainsare rare components of the assemblage. The most common sporesbelong to Dictyophyllidites and Deltoidospora, and the pollen grainsare dominated by Corollina torosa, Spheripollenites scabratus,
Exesipollenites scabratus, and other small inaperturate pollen grains.Dinoflagellate cysts are common in the Upper Pliensbachian and aremainly represented by Mancodinium and Nannoceratopsis. Othermarine microplankton (acritarchs and microforaminifer lining) arecommon.
The palynoflora is mainly represented by relatively long-rangingspecies. The most conspicuous component of the palynoflora isNannoceratopsis gracilis, which ranges from the late Pliensbachianto Bajocian (see compilation in Bucefalo-Palliani and Riding, 2003)and shows a wide geographical distribution in the NorthernHemisphere. Davies (1985) correlated the first occurrence of N.gracilis to the Luehndea sp. A biozone. He considered this palynozoneto encompass the Spinatum and Tenuicostatum (Polymorphum)ammonite zones. Mancodinium semitabulatum is considered to have
17. L. aff. velatus PEN 12
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ranged from the Pliensbachian to the Bajocian (Bucefalo-Palliani andRiding, 2003). In the palynomorph assemblages of Peniche, a Tethyaninfluence is indicated by the presence of M. semitabulatum and N.gracilis (Bucefalo-Palliani and Riding, 2003).
Isotope stratigraphy (C, O and Sr)
In recent years, large quantities of geochemical data have beenpublished from the Pliensbachian-Toarcian succession at Peniche(Jenkyns et al., 2002; Oliveira et al., 2005; 2006; Hesselbo et al.,2007; Hermoso et al., 2009; Suan et al., 2008a; 2010; Silva et al.,2011). These include carbon and oxygen stable isotopes (δ13C, δ18O),strontium isotopes (87Sr/86Sr), and total organic carbon (wt% TOC)data. Isotopic data have been derived from bulk carbonate, belemnites,brachiopods, and fossil wood. Some of the isotopic data span the
Toarcian oceanic anoxic event (T-OAE) and have demonstrated theimportance of the Peniche section for understanding of this globalphenomenon (Hesselbo et al., 2007; Suan et al., 2008a; 2010).
Across the PLB/TOA, TOC values are generally low, around0.2wt% in the Emaciatum Zone and around 0.5 wt% in thePolymorphum Zone (Oliveira et al., 2006; Hesselbo et al., 2007). Inthe marlstone/limestone succession across the PLB/TOA, a prominentnegative carbon-isotope excursion has been recognized. The δ13Cvalues of bulk carbonate decrease through the upper Emaciatum Zone,with the most negative values observed in the lowermost part of thePolymorphum Zone (0.65m above the PLB/TOA boundary; base ofSemicelatum Subzone), representing an overall decrease of about2.0‰ (Oliveira et al., 2005; Hesselbo et al., 2007; Fig. 9). The sametrend has been documented in carbon isotopes of belemnites andbrachiopods from Peniche, as well as in fossil wood (Hesselbo et al.,
Figure 8. Selected ostracod specimens from the PLB/TOA. Legend: Cp = carapace; RV = right view; LV = left view. Bar = 100 µm.1. Ogmoconcha cf. hagenowi Drexler, 1958, Cp, RV, sample PP-1, Emaciatum Zone. 2. Ledahia septenaria Gründel, 1964, Cp, LV, sampleP-6, Polymorphum Zone. 3. Bairdia cf. kempfi Ainsworth, 1989, Cp, RV, sample P-4, Polymorphum Zone. 4. Polycope cf. cincinnataApostolescu, 1959, Cp, RV, sample PP-3, Emaciatum Zone. 5. Paracypris sp. 1, Cp, RV, sample PP-2, Emaciatum Zone. 6. Liasina lanceolata(Apostolescu, 1959), Cp, RV, sample P-6, Polymorphum Zone. 7. Ogmoconcha inflata (Ainsworth, 1987), Cp, RV, sample P-4, PolymorphumZone. 8. Ptychobairdia hahni (Lord & Moorley, 1974), Cp, LV, sample P-6, Polymorphum Zone. 9. Kinkelinella sp. 1, Cp, RV, sample P-8,Polymorphum Zone. 10. Bairdia aff. rostrata Issler, 1908, Cp, RV, sample P-4, Polymorphum Zone. 11. Paracypris redcarensis (Blake,1876), Cp, RV, sample P-11-B, Polymorphum Zone. 12. Ektyphocythere knitteri Riegraf, 1984, Cp, RV, sample P-13-B, PolymorphumZone. 13. Bairdia sp. 2, Cp, RV, sample P-11-T, Polymorphum Zone.
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2007; Suan et al., 2008a; 2010). This negative shift in δ13C is alsorecorded in other sections in the Lusitanian Basin (Pittet et al., 2014).Littler et al. (2010) also detected a very similar negative carbon-isotopeexcursion, centred at the Hawskerense–Paltum Subzone boundary,in bulk organic matter from Yorkshire (England), and Bodin et al.(2010) documented a significant negative excursion in bulk carbonateat the base of the Polymorphum Zone in a section from Morocco.Although less precisely dated and smaller in amplitude, such aboundary negative excursion in carbon stable isotopes (both bulkrock and organic matter) was further recorded in the Ionian zone(Kafousia et al., 2014). These records demonstrate the potentialimportance of the δ13C excursion as a chemostratigraphical markerfor the PLB/TOA. The morphology of the negative spike at Penichewith respect to the expanded sections in Yorkshire and Morocco isfurther evidence for the continuous sedimentary record at Penicheacross the PLB/TOA boundary.
In the Polymorphum Zone, the δ13Cbulk-carb data show a positiveshift of +2.0‰, reaching maximum values in the middle–upper partof the Polymorphum Zone (Hesselbo et al., 2007). The same shiftwas observed in δ13C values from of belemnites, brachiopods andwood (Hesselbo et al., 2007; Suan et al., 2008a; 2010). This positiveexcursion was also recognized in the Coimbra area and other distalsectors of the Lusitanian Basin (Duarte et al., 2007; Pittet et al., 2014).Above this level, the trend is reversed and an abrupt large negativecarbon-isotope excursion is observed in the Lusitanian Basin at thebase of the Levisoni Zone, which is considered as a characteristicfeature of the T-OAE (Duarte, 1998; Jenkyns et al., 2002; Duarte etal., 2004a, 2007; Oliveira et al., 2005; Hesselbo et al., 2007; Suan etal., 2008a; Pittet et al., 2014). According to cyclostratigraphy, thenegative shift in δ13C values characterizing the T-OAE occurred ~860kyr after the PLB/TOA (Suan et al., 2008b; Huang and Hesselbo,2014).
Figure 9. A. Oxygen isotopes measured on calcite brachiopod shells in the interval corresponding to the Emaciatum – Levisoni Zones (Suanet al., 2008a). B. High-resolution C-isotopes of bulk rock, C-isotope values of belemnites and 87Sr/86Sr around the PLB/TOA at Peniche(Hesselbo et al., 2007).
A
B
-3 -2.5 -2 -1.5 -1 -0.5
-1.5 -1 -0.6 0 0.6 1.5 2 2.51 3
-1.5 -1 -0.6 0 0.6 1.5 2 2.51 3 0.70
704
0.70
712
0.70
708
0.70
710
0.70
706
18O �PDB Brachiopods
13C �PDB 87Sr/86Sr Belemnites
T°C ( 18Ow = -1� SMOW)
(Anderson and Arthur, 1983)
(Suan et al., 2008a)
5
10
15
20
30
25
35
40
45
me
tre
s
Plie
nsbachia
nLow
er
Toarc
ian
M. T.
152025
Poly
morp
hum
Bifro
ns
Em
acia
tum
Levis
oni
Lem
ede F
orm
ation
Cabo C
arv
oeiro F
orm
ation
Poly
morp
hum
Toarc
ian
Em
acia
tum
Plie
nsbachia
n
0.5
0
-1
-1.5
-0.5
-2
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
13C PDB Bulk Carbonates � (Hesselbo et al., 2007)(Hesselbo et al., 2007)
13C PDB Belemnites � (new data)
13C PDB Belemnites � (Hesselbo et al., 2007)
Lithology(as published in Duarte and Soares, 2002,
Hesselbo et al., 2007)
15
14c
14b
16
C
16
A
B
16b
16
D
a
b
16a
16c
c
d
e
14
12
10
He
igh
t (m
)
Sta
ge
Zo
ne
Fo
rma
tio
n
Du
art
e (
19
95
)
Mo
ute
rde
(1
95
5)
Elm
i e
t a
l. (
19
96
)
Episodes Vol. 39, no. 3
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Figure 10. Lower Toarcian subdivisions and correlations: Subboreal, Northwest European and Mediterranean Provinces. Comparisonsare also made with North America and circum-Pacific zonations, namely South America, Japan and NE Asia. Absolute ages are afterGradstein et al. (2012).
Oxygen-isotope values of bulk carbonates through the UpperPliensbachian and Lower Toarcian interval fluctuate considerably.However, around the PLB/TOA a negative excursion is observed inbulk rock, and both belemnite and brachiopod calcite, with severallow δ18O values observed at the base of the Polymorphum Zone (20–30 cm above the PLB/TOA) suggesting a sharp warming eventoccurred at the base of the Toarcian (Oliveira et al., 2005; Suan et al.,2008a; Hermoso et al., 2009). The δ18O values of belemnites andbrachiopods increase gradually until the middle part of thePolymorphum Zone, then decrease towards the Polymorphum/Levisoni zones boundary (Fig. 9). Strontium-isotope data have beengenerated from belemnites at Peniche (Fig. 9; Jenkyns et al., 2002;Hesselbo et al., 2007), although the uncertainties associated with theseanalyses are large in comparison to equivalent determinations fromthe sections in Yorkshire (McArthur et al., 2000). However, it isnotable that the lowest strontium-isotope ratios inferred for EarlyJurassic seawater occur at the PLB/TOA.
Corr elation of Peniche to other relevant areasbased on ammonites and other fossil groups
Ammonites are the most relevant taxonomic group for globalbiochronological correlation of the PLB/TOA. Upper Pliensbachianand Lower Toarcian ammonites are found worldwide in the two majormarine, palaeogeographical realms, Boreal and Tethyan, and a fewbiogeographical provinces (Arkell, 1956; Hallam, 1969; Stevens, inHallam, 1973; Howarth, in Hallam, 1973; Cariou, in Hallam, 1973;Enay, 1980; Enay and Mangold, 1982; Cariou et al., 1985; Smith etal., 1988; Hillebrandt et al., in Westermann, 1992; 2000; Enay andCariou, 1997; Page, 2004, 2008). The classical biogeographicalschemes for the Early Jurassic usually do not recognize an Australammonite fauna or an Austral Province that is known for the LateJurassic. In fact, the Lower Jurassic Austral and Tethyan ammonitefaunas show a less marked contrast than the Tethyan and BorealRealms (Enay and Cariou, 1997).
Figure 10 shows standard zonations for the three ammonitebiogeographical provinces present in Western Europe, namely theSubboreal, the NW European and the Mediterranean, as compared tothe Peniche section ammonite zonation. Ammonites of the
Tenuicostatum/Polymorphum zones have a wide distribution throughthe various ammonite provinces and allow for easy correlation. Datashown here clearly demonstrate that, in spite of palaeoprovincialism,the first (mass) occurrence of Dactylioceras (Eodactylites) is a solidevent that allows reliable, worldwide correlations.
Several authors have proposed various biozonations for the UpperPliensbachian and Lower Toarcian based on different taxonomicgroups of macroinvertebrates: brachiopods (Tchoumatchenco, 1972;Goy et al., 1984; Manceñido and Dagis, in Westermann, 1992; Almérasand Fauré, 2000; Alméras et al. in Cariou and Hantzpergue, 1997;Alméras et al., 2007; García Joral and Goy, 2000), belemnites(Stoyanova-Vergilova, 1977; Doyle, 1990; Challinor et al., inWestermann, 1992; Doyle and Bennett, 1995; Combémorel, in Cariouand Hantzpergue, 1997), bivalves (Shopov, 1970; Sato, inWestermann, 1992; Hallam, 1994; Damborenea, 2002; Ruban, 2006),echinoderms (Thierry et al., in Cariou and Hantzpergue, 1997), andcorals (Beauvais, in Westermann, 1992).
The following taxonomic groups of microfossils are also ofbiochronostratigraphical relevance: benthic foraminifera (Ruget andNicollin, in Cariou and Hantzpergue, 1997); ostracods (Bodergat, inCariou and Hantzpergue, 1997); dinoflagellate cysts (Davies, 1985;Fauconnier, in Cariou and Hantzpergue, 1997; Bucefalo Palliani andRiding, 2003); radiolarians (Carter et al., 1988; Pessagno andMizutani, in Westermann, 1992; Sato, in Westermann, 1992); andcalcareous nannofossils (Bown, 1987; de Kænel and Bergen, 1993;Bucefalo Palliani and Mattioli, 1998; Mattioli and Erba, 1999; Perilliet al., 2010; Mailliot et al., 2006, 2007; Oliveira et al., 2007b).Palaeobotanical and palynological data have been published byRogalska (1974), Cernjavska (1986), Guy-Ohlson (in Rocha andSoares, 1988), Kimura et al. (in Westermann, 1992), Sarjeant et al.(in Westermann, 1992), Vijaya (2000), and Shenghui and Fen (2000).
In synthesis, the base of the Toarcian, primarily defined by meansof ammonites, can be characterised by several other fossil groups.In particular, a succession of calcareous nannofossils’ FOs(B. intermedium, L. velatus, D. ignotus and C. superbus) encapsulatesthe PLB/TOA (Fig. 6). Also, ostracod assemblage significantlychanges passing from the Amalthei Zone in the Pliensbachian to theTenuicostati Zone in the Toarcian. Although dinoflagellate andforaminifera data are studied in a lesser detail, some significant change
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did occur across the PLB/TOA. Within the dinoflagellates, N. gracilisand Luhendea sp. A first occur. Benthic foraminifera also display animportant renewal (Fig. 11). All these events are fundamental forcorrelating Peniche to other marine sections that do not contain adetailed ammonite biostratigraphy.
Comparisons with the Almonacid de la Cubasection (Iberian Range, Spain)
A reference section for the base of the Toarcian Stage is locatednear the Almonacid de la Cuba town, 35 km South of Zaragoza(Aragonese branch of the Iberian Range, Spain) where magneto-stratigraphy is available (Fig. 12). The Pliensbachian” Toarciansuccession and the fossil content have been studied in detail (Goy etal., 2006; Comas-Rengifo et al., 2010 and references therein). ThePLB/TOA boundary is recorded in the marlstone/limestone alter-nations of the Turmiel Fm, which was deposited in an open-marine,external platform environment (Gómez, 1991; Gómez and Goy, 2005).The Almonacid de la Cuba section contains an excellent record ofthe PLB/TOA, where no evidence of major sedimentary breaks wasfound. Four ammonite assemblages characterized, respectively, bythe presence of Pleuroceras, Canavaria, Dactylioceras (Eodactylites)and Dactylioceras (Orthodactylites) have been distinguished. Thebase of the Toarcian is located at level CU35.2, based on the firstoccurrence of Dactylioceras species (Fig. 12).
Based upon comparison of ammonite assemblages in the twosections, a bed-by-bed correlation is possible. The UpperPliensbachian Beds 15a–15b of the Peniche section are the equivalentof the levels 15–22 of the Almonacid de la Cuba section (Figs. 4a and12). Level 15c of Peniche is the equivalent of levels 23–28 of
Almonacid de la Cuba. Bed 15d of Peniche is the equivalent of levels29–35 of Almonacid de la Cuba. The Lower Toarcian Bed 15e ofPeniche, containing Dactylioceras (Eodactylites) simplex, D. (E.)pseudocommune, D. (E.) polymorphum, Protogrammoceras(Paltarpites) cf. paltum, L. aff. ballinense and T. aff. capillatum, isthe equivalent of levels 35.2–42 of Almonacid de la Cuba,characterized by D. (E.) simplex, D. (E.) mirabile, D. (E.)polymorphum, Protogrammoceras sp. and P. cf. paltum. Level 16aof Peniche is the equivalent of level 46 and younger levels ofAlmonacid de la Cuba. Level 16c of Peniche, which includes the firstrecord of D. (Orthodactylites) semicelatum, can be correlated withlevel 62 of Almonacid de la Cuba, which contains the same record.
The Almonacid de la Cuba magnetostratigraphy (Fig. 12) showsthe N3 magnetozone also observed in the Iznalloz section (BeticCordillera, southern Spain; Galbrun et al., 1990) and in the SierraPalomera and Ariño sections (Iberian Range, Central Spain; Osete etal., 2007). The R2 magnetozone corresponds to the reversed polarityobserved in the lower part of the Iznalloz section. R2 and R1 werealso recorded in the Breggia section, southern Switzerland (SouthernAlps; Horner and Heller, 1983), but the N2 magnetozone was notdetected there. The Lower Toarcian is only poorly represented in theAlpine section (the Tenuicostatum Zone is around 30 cm thick) andprobably there is a gap at the PLB/TOA (Comas-Rengifo et al., 2010).These authors also report the magnetostratigraphy of the Amonacidde la Cuba section as the most complete record for the PLB/TOA.The 87Sr/86Sr values obtained at Almonacid de la Cuba (Fig. 12) matchwell with previously published data (McArthur et al., 2000; Hesselboet al., 2007). Upper Pliensbachian 87Sr/86Sr values generally decreaseduring the Hawskerense Biochron, reaching a first minimum valuebelow 0.70705 in the late portion of this time interval. 87Sr/86Sr values
Upper
Plie
nsbachia
n
Spin
atu
m
Arcuato-
costata
Tenuicostati
Luehndea
spinosa
+
Maturodinium
inornatum
+
Valvaeodinium
armatum
Lenticulina obonensis
mg Planularia
+
L. aragonensis
mg Saracenaria
L. praeobonensis
mg Planularia
+ L. sublaevis
mg Saracenaria
AmaltheiAnningi-
Apostolescui
No
rth
west
Eu
rop
ean
Med
iterr
an
ean
OstracodaCalcareous nannofossils
Tenuic
osta
tum
Em
acia
tum
Alg
ovia
-
nu
m p
.p.
Poly
morp
hum
Low
er
Toarc
ian
ZonesZone
NJT6Carinolithus superbus
NJT5L. hauffii
NJT4S. cruciulus
NJT4bS. cruciulus
NJT5bL. sigillatus
NJ5bC. impontus
NJ5L. hauffii
NJT5aS. finchii
NJ5aS. finchii
Zone Subzone Zone
Benthic foraminifera
Assemblage
ZoneSubzone
Dinoflagellate cysts
ZoneSubzone
NW EuropeanBasque-Cantabrian
North and centralItaly
France Portugal
Portugal
Luehndea
sp. A
L. sublaevis
mg Saracenaria
Telothyris jauberti
and
T. pyrenaica
Quadratirhynchia
quadrata
and
Zeilleria (Z.)
quadrifida
Liospiriferina
falloti
and
Aulacothyris
iberica
Liospiriferina
falloti
and
Nannirhynchia
pygmaea
Quadratirhynchia
quadrata
and
Zeilleria (Z.)
quadrifida
Quadratirhynchia
quadrata
and
Phymatothyris
kerkyaraea
Passaloteuthis
bisulcatus
Brachiopoda
Zone Zone Zone
Northwest
European
domain
Belemnites
Range -
Zone
North Tethyan
domain
Western
Algeria
Passaloteuthis
zieteni
Mendicodinium
reticulatum
SU
BS
TA
GE
Figure 11. Zonations based upon calcareous nannofossils (Bown and Cooper, 1998; Mattioli and Erba, 1999; Perilli and Comas-Rengifo,2002; Comas-Rengifo et al., 2004; Perilli et al. 2004; 2010; Mailliot et al., 2007; Mattioli et al., 2013), ostracods (Bodergat, in Cariou andHantzpergue, 1997), dinoflagellate cysts (Davies, 1985; Fauconnier, in Cariou and Hantzpergue, 1997) and foraminifera (Ruget andNicollin, in Cariou and Hantzpergue, 1997). Concerning calcareous nannofossils, the zones used for Peniche are shown in grey. Both NJ5band NJT5b Subzones defined in NW Europe and Basque-Cantabria area, and in Northern and Central Italy, respectively, can be usedat Peniche, as the markers of the two subzones (Crepidolithus impontus and Lotharingius sigillatus) are commonly recorded there.Comparison of brachiopod and belemnite zones from various domains (Alméras et al., in Cariou and Hantzpergue, 1997; Combémorel, inCariou and Hantzpergue, 1997).
Episodes Vol. 39, no. 3
475
5
10
15
me
tre
s
Fe
LO
WE
R T
OA
RC
IAN
UP
PE
R P
LIE
NS
BA
CH
IAN
BA
RA
HO
NA
Fm
TE
RU
EL F
orm
atio
n
N1
N2
N2
R2
R1
nR1
Ple
uro
cera
s s
ola
re (
Phill
ips)
Canavaria (
C.)
zancle
ana (
Fucin
i)C
anavaria (
C.)
cf. n
axensis
(G
em
mella
ro)
Canavaria (
C.)
cf. g
regalis
(F
ucin
i)
Fonta
nelli
cera
s fonta
nelle
nse (
Gem
mella
ro)
Dacty
liocera
s (
Eodacty
lites)
sim
ple
x F
ucin
iD
acty
liocera
s (
E.)
mirabile
Fucin
iD
acty
liocera
s (
O.)
cro
seyi (S
impson)
Dacty
liocera
s (
O.)
sem
icela
tum
(S
impson)
Pro
togra
mm
ocera
s s
p.
Lio
cera
toid
es c
f. s
ero
tinus (
Bettoni)
Neolio
cera
toid
es c
f. h
offm
anni (B
ettoni)
Neolio
cera
toid
es c
f. s
chop
eni (B
ettoni)
Lio
cera
toid
es s
pp.
Pro
togra
mm
ocera
s p
altum
(B
uckm
an)
Pro
togra
mm
ocera
s m
adagascariense (
Thevenin
)
E.
cf. im
itato
r (F
ucin
i)E
macia
ticera
s lotti (G
em
mella
ro)
E. em
acia
tum
(C
atu
lo)
Canavaria (
T.)
cf. n
odosa (
Fucin
i)C
anavaria (
T.)
elis
a (
Fucin
i)
P. sp
inatu
m (
Bru
guiè
re)
P. ap
yre
num
(B
uckm
an)
P. yeovile
nses (
How
art
h)
P. cf. h
aw
skere
nse (
Young&
Bird)
Te
nu
ico
sta
tum
Sp
ina
tum
Ap
yre
nu
mH
aw
ske
ren
se
Mirabile
Sem
icela
um
0.7
07040
0.7
07050
0.7
07060
0.7
07070
0.7
07080
0.7
07090
0.7
07100
0.7
07040
0.7
07050
0.7
07060
0.7
07070
0.7
07080
0.7
07090
0.7
07100LithologyL
ith
os
tra
tig
rap
hy
Ma
gn
eto
-s
tra
tig
rap
hy
Strontium isotopes
Ch
ron
o-
str
ati
gra
ph
y
87Sr/
86Sr Belemnites
Ammonites
Ammonitebiostrati-graphy
Zo
ne
Su
bzo
ne
Figure 12. Lithological succession of the Almonacid de la Cuba section with ammonite distribution, magnetostratigraphy, and 87Sr/86Srisotope ratio (modified from Comas-Rengifo et al., 2010).
slightly increase in the latest part of Hawskerense Biochron. Minimumvalues are recorded at the base of the Toarcian, and 87Sr/86Sr slowlyrecovers during the Tenuicostatum Zone.
Comparisons between Peniche, Almonacid dela Cuba and the magnetic record of the Karoovolcanic province
The very tight correlation of Peniche to the Almonacid de la Cubamagnetostratigraphy allows discussion of the magnetic record andcorrelation with the Karoo volcanic reversed/normal polaritysuccession, and hence the possible projection of Karoo ages onto theGSSP of PLB/TOA. At Almonacid de la Cuba, the PLB/TOA falls inthe upper part of the magnetozone N2 (Comas-Rengifo et al., 2010;Figs. 12, 13). This assignment is not in agreement with data from the
basal Toarcian intervals studied by Galbrun et al. (1994) and Hornerand Heller (1983), who reported the PLB/TOA within a reversedmagnetochron. This discrepancy is probably due to the presence ofhighly condensed intervals, or hiatuses in sections both from W France(Galbrun et al., 1994) and from the Southern Alps (Horner and Heller,1983). The following magnetozone N3 at Almonacid de la Cuba seemsto last longer than the previous normal magnetochrons (Fig. 12),although a possible increase in the sedimentation rate in this intervalcannot be excluded.
The magnetostratigraphy in the Karoo volcanic rocks sampledalong the Lebombo volcanic rifted margin (Riley et al., 2004, andreferences therein), dated to the PLB/TOA, shows a reversed/normalpolarity succession characterized by three normal magnetozones.The intermediate magnetozone corresponds to a very thick interval(~4 km) within the Sabie River Basalt Formation. Duncan et al. (1997)
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476
interpreted the Sabie River Basalt Formation as having been eruptedduring a period of <0.5 million years, since the sequence lies withinthis single normal magnetozone.
We tentatively correlate the upper part of the N2 magnetozoneof the Almonacid de la Cuba section, where the PLB/TOA lies(base of Mirabile Subzone that is well correlated to Peniche), to theKaroo volcanic rocks dated as 182.7 ± 0.8 Ma 40Ar/38Ar (Duncanet al., 1997), also corresponding to the upper part of a magneticnormal chron (Fig. 13). If this correlation holds true, this age wouldbe within error but slightly younger than the 183.6 +1.7/-1.1 Mameasured by Pálfy and Smith (2000) or 183.0 ± 1.5 Ma estimatedby Ogg (2004).
The N3 normal magnetozone of the Almonacid de la Cuba section,which is dated to the Tenuicostatum ammonite Zone, SemicelatumSubzone (well correlated to the Semicelatum Subzone of Peniche),might correspond to the thick normal magnetozone in the Sabie RiverBasalt Formation, if the respective thicknesses were not due to a highersedimentation rate within the N3 (at Almonacid de la Cuba) or to an
increased rate of basalt production (within the Sabie River BasaltFormation).
Protection of the site
Besides the major importance of the Toarcian GSSP, the PenichePeninsula shows the most significant section for the Lower Jurassicof Portugal (Duarte, 2004), recording ~20 million years of Portuguesegeological history. Several papers emphasize the considerable valueof this outcrop in terms of geological heritage (Duarte, 2004, 2005;Brilha et al., 2005; Rilo et al., 2010). In fact, Peniche brings togetherthree features that support its importance as a site of high heritageinterest: several geological objects and structures show high scientificvalue with international relevance; the sedimentary geology has ahuge potential for educational activities both for academic andindustrial purposes. In spite of its high potential for the geologicalheritage of the Jurassic, the Peniche peninsula is not yet included inany national geological protection system. However, based on a special
Basement
Mashikiri nephelinites
Letaba
River
Basalt Fm
Sabie River
Basalt Fm
Maxim
um
lava s
tratigra
phy e
xposed a
long O
lifants
Riv
er
section (
km
)
Jozini
Formation
Mozambique
border
Younger cover
SRBF
SRBF
12.0
6.5
5.8
4.3
1.5
0.20.0
R
R
R
R
N
N
N
Olif
an
ts
B
ed
s
SA.39.1
SA.29.1
SA.24.1
SA.42.1
Riley et al. (2004)
Comas-Rengifo et al. (2010)Hesselbo et al. (2007)
0.70
704
0.70
712
0.70
714
0.70
708
0.70
710
0.70
706
87Sr/86Sr Belemnites 87Sr/86Sr Belemnites
0m
-2
-4
2
4
6
8
Le
me
de
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rma
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iel F
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atio
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ne
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mic
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ne
Mira
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se
Su
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ne
Se
mic
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tum
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Mi
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Z
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ub
zo
ne
To
arc
ian
error bars = 2
Sp
ina
tum
Zo
ne
Plie
nsb
ach
ian R1
R2
N3
N1
nR1
N2
0.70
704
0.70
708
0.70
710
0.70
706
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Ponta do Trovão - Peniche
Karoo volcanic rocks
along the Lebombo rifted volcanic margin
Almonacid de la Cuba
m
T-OAE
A
B
C
D
E
F
RADIOMETRIC AGES
A - 182.1 ± 1.6 Ma 40Ar/38Ar (Duncan et al. 1997)
B - 182.7 ± 0.8 Ma 40Ar/38Ar (Duncan et al. 1997)
C - 181.2 ± 1.0 to 184.2 ± 1.0 Ma 40Ar/38Ar (Duncan et al. 1997)
SA.39.1 - 179.9 ± 1.8 Ma SHRIMP (Riley et al. 2004)
SA.29.1 - 182.0 ± 2.1 Ma SHRIMP (Riley et al. 2004) SA.24.1 - Not dated
D - 179 ± 3 to 182 ± 3 Ma K/Ar (Fitch & Miller 1984)
E - 176.7 ± 5.6 Ma Rb/Sr (Allsopp et al. 1984)
F - 178.1 ± 0.6 to 179.7 ± 0.7 Ma 40Ar/38Ar (Duncan et al. 1997)
SA.42.1 - 182.1 ± 2.9 Ma SHRIMP (Riley et al. 2004)
Figure 13. Proposed correlations between Peniche ages and strontium isotope curve with magnetostratigraphy of the Almonacid de la Cubasection and the Karoo volcanic rocks in South Africa. Mi = Mirabile Subzone.
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report presented to local authorities (Duarte, 2007b), the City Hall ofPeniche declared, in April 2007, the locality of Ponta do Trovão as a“Site of City Hall Interest”.
SummaryThe Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point for the base
of the Toarcian Stage has been established at the Peniche section(Ponta do Trovão, Lusitanian Basin, Portugal) because it satisfiesmost of the requirements recommended by the InternationalCommission on Stratigraphy (http://www.stratigraphy.org/).1 The Pliensbachian/Toarcian boundary (PLB/TOA) at Peniche is
included in a continuous section that comprises over 450 m ofcarbonate-rich sediments.
2 Structural complexity, synsedimentary and tectonic disturbances,metamorphism and strong diagenetic alteration are minimalconstraints in this area.
3 At the PLB/TOA, as recorded in a hemipelagic marlstone/limestonealternation unit, no significant vertical facies changes,stratigraphical gaps and hiatuses have been recorded. An increasein clay content is observed above the boundary.
4 The palaeontological record of the Elisa and Mirabile subzonesshows abundant and diverse well-preserved macro- and microfossilassemblages. The PLB/TOA is characterized thanks to both primary(ammonites) and auxiliary biostratigraphical markers (calcareousnannofossils, brachiopods and ostracods). The ammoniteassemblages of the PLB/TOA mainly contain taxa characteristicof the Mediterranean (Paltarpites, Lioceratoides) and theNorthwest European provinces (Dactylioceras and Tiltoniceras)that allow global correlations. The boundary is identified at Peniche(as well as in other sections) by the mass occurrence ofDactylioceratids and, in particular, by the FO of D. (Eodactylites)pseudocommune and D. (E.) simplex. The ammonite zones andsubzones defined at Peniche are assemblage (Oppel) zones basedon the co-occurrence of several species of ammonites. Calcareousnannofossils first and last occurrences constitute a valuablesecondary proxy for recognition and correlation of the base of theToarcian. A succession of events is recorded across the PLB/TOA, namely the FOs of B. intermedium, L. velatus, D. ignotusand C. superbus are recorded in Peniche as well as other Tethyansettings.
5 High-resolution stable carbon and oxygen isotopes, and 87Sr/86Srratios show distinctive changes just above the PLB/TOA atPeniche, constituting powerful tools for global correlation.
6 No data are currently available for radioisotopic dating ormagnetostratigraphy. The requirement of suitability formagnetostratigraphy is available at the Almonacid de la Cubasection (Iberian Range, Spain), which correlates well with Peniche.The N2–R2 magnetozone boundary is recorded just above thePLB/TOA at Almonacid. The precise correlation between the twosections allows indirect correlation of Peniche to the magneticrecord of the Karoo Group.
7 Sequence stratigraphy is available for the Pliensbachian andToarcian series of the Lusitanian Basin. Cyclostratigraphy analysisis available for the Lower Toarcian of Ponta do Trovão.
8 The Peniche area is not yet included in any national geologicalprotection system; nevertheless, the Peniche City Hall hasrecognized the high geological heritage value of the Jurassic ofthe Peniche Peninsula and has declared, in 2007, the site of Ponta
do Trovão as a «Site of City Hall Interest». A permanent fixedmarker (i.e., a golden spike) is going to be placed by the PenicheCity Hall.With this Toarcian GSSP, all international stages of the Lower
Jurassic have been officially defined.
The requirements Ponta do Tr ovãofor a GSSP(ICS) Peniche section (Portugal)
Geological requirements Adequacy of geologicalrequirements
Exposure over an adequate Yesthickness
Continuous sedimentation. Little condensation 20 cmNo gaps or condensation above the boundaryclose to the boundary
Sedimentary rate Thickness: 9m for theEmaciatum Zone and 11m forthe Polymorphum Zone.Sedimentary rate at thePLB/TOA: 3.26–3.81 m/Myr
Absence of synsedimentary Yesand tectonic disturbances
Absence of metamorphism and Yesstrong diagenetic alteration
Biostratigraphical r equirements
Abundance and diversity of Abundant and well preservedwell-preserved fossils ammonites and brachiopods
Absence of vertical facies No (slight facies variationchanges at or near the boundary 20 cm above the boundary)
Favourable facies for long-range Yesbiostratigraphical correlations
Micropalaeontological data Calcareous nannofossils (wellpreserved and abundant),ostracods, palynomorphs,and foraminifera
Other methods
Radioisotopic dating No results
Magnetostratigraphy No results at Peniche; goodresults in the Almonacid de laCuba section (Spain) well-correlated to Peniche. Indirectcorrelation of Peniche to theKaroo magnetic record.
Chemostratigraphy Hesselbo et al. (2007); Suanet al. (2008a)
Sequence stratigraphy Duarte et al. (2004b); Duarte(2007a); Pittet et al. (2014)
Cyclostratigraphy Suan et al. (2008b); Huangand Hesselbo (2014)
Other requirements
GSSP indicated by a permanent Yesfixed marker
Physical and logistical accessibility Yes, very easy accessibility
Free access for research Yes
Protection of the site Designated as a “Site of CityHall Interest” since 2007
AcknowledgementsSeveral scientists have been members of the Toarcian Working
Group. We would like to acknowledge all of them. We are also gratefulto the ISJS and ICS members who have made valuable comments on
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a previous version of this manuscript. We warmly thank Marc Philippefor his help with the literature on Pliensbachian/Toarcian continentalsuccessions. We warmly thank Christian Meister and Jim Ogg fortheir helpful review. Constructive remarks by Jim Ogg on an earlyversion of the paper were greatly appreciated. We also acknowledgethe precious help of David Besson for providing the ammonitespecimens from the Mouterde collection (Musée des Confluences,Lyon). Ammonite photographs were taken by Emmanuel Robert(Collections de Géologie de Lyon). This paper is dedicated to thememory of Abbé René Mouterde and Serge Elmi, who died in 2007after having been for years the main supporters of the Peniche sectionas GSSP of Toarcian Stage. Calcareous nannofossil slides are curatedat the Collections de Géologie de Lyon (No. FSL 766535-766617).This work has been supported by the BIOSCALES Project (POCTI/36438/PAL/2000), coordinated by the Universidade NOVA de Lisboa;R. B. Rocha thanks the support of A. F. Soares, J. C. Kullberg, P. S.Caetano and P. H. Verdial. Financial support was provided to L. V.Duarte, S. Pinto and M. C. Cabral by Projects PDCTE/CTA/44907/2002 and PTDC/CTE-GIX/098968/2008.
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Rogério Bordalo da Rocha is EmeritusProfessor since 2011 of Geology of Sedi-mentary Basins at the Faculty of Sciencesand Technology in the Universidade NOVAde Lisboa, Portugal. His research focuses onthe stratigraphy of the Triassic and Jurassicformations and the biochronology andpalaeobiology of Invertebrates, especiallyLower and Middle Jurassic ammonites of theLusitanian and Algarve basins.
Emanuela Mattioli is full Professor at theUniversité Lyon 1 since 2011. She hasexpertise in the domains of thebiostratigraphy and micropalaeontology(calcareous nanno-fossils). Her mainresearch interests concern the origin ofpelagic marine carbonates and itsrelationships with paleoceanography andbio-geochemical cycles.
Luís Vítor Duarte is Associate Professor atthe University of Coimbra. His researchactivity, developed at the MARE - Marineand Environmental Sciences Centre, ismainly focused on integrated stratigraphyanalysis, sedimentology and geochemistry ofmarine carbonate deposits.
Bernard Pittet is Associate Professor atthe Department of Earth Sciences, LyonObservatory, University Lyon 1, France.As sedimentologist, his research interestfocused on palaeoenvironmental reconstruc-tions of ancient, both carbonate andsiliciclastic sedimentary systems, and theirrelationship with climate, sea level andpalaeoceanography.